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⇱ debate - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

debate

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/dɪˈbeɪt/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/dɪˈbeɪt/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(di bāt′)

Inflections of 'debate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
debates
v 3rd person singular
debating
v pres p
debated
v past
debated
v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
de•bate /dɪˈbeɪt/USA pronunciation   n., v., -bat•ed, -bat•ing. 
n. 
  1. a discussion involving opposing viewpoints:[countable]a lively debate over the issue of raising taxes.
  2. [countable] a formal contest in which the affirmative and negative sides of an issue are argued for by opposing speakers.
  3. deliberation;
    consideration:[uncountable]After some debate they made their decision.

v. 
  1. [ ~ (+ about) + clause] to deliberate;
    consider:We debated (about) whether we should go or stay here.
  2. [ ~ (+ about) + obj] to argue or discuss (a question), as in a group:We debated (about) the issue most of the night.
  3. to have a formal debate (with): [no obj]:When we left, the teams were still debating.[ ~ + obj ]:I had to debate the best speaker in the district.
de•bat•er, n. [countable]
de•bat•ing, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
de•bate  (di bāt′),USA pronunciation n., v., -bat•ed, -bat•ing. 
n. 
  1. a discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints:a debate in the Senate on farm price supports.
  2. a formal contest in which the affirmative and negative sides of a proposition are advocated by opposing speakers.
  3. deliberation;
    consideration.
  4. [Archaic.]strife;
    contention.

v.i. 
  1. to engage in argument or discussion, as in a legislative or public assembly:When we left, the men were still debating.
  2. to participate in a formal debate.
  3. to deliberate;
    consider:I debated with myself whether to tell them the truth or not.
  4. [Obs.]to fight;
    quarrel.

v.t. 
  1. to argue or discuss (a question, issue, or the like), as in a legislative or public assembly:They debated the matter of free will.
  2. to dispute or disagree about:The homeowners debated the value of a road on the island.
  3. to engage in formal argumentation or disputation with (another person, group, etc.):Jones will debate Smith. Harvard will debate Princeton.
  4. to deliberate upon;
    consider:He debated his decision in the matter.
  5. [Archaic.]to contend for or over.
  • Old French, derivative of debatre
  • Latin battere, earlier battuere; (noun, nominal) Middle English debat
  • Old French debatre, equivalent. to de- de- + batre to beat
  • (verb, verbal) Middle English debaten 1250–1300
de•bat′er, n. 
de•bat′ing•ly, adv. 
    1. argument, controversy, disputation, contention. 5. dispute, contend. See argue. 
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
debate /dɪˈbeɪt/ n
  1. a formal discussion, as in a legislative body, in which opposing arguments are put forward
  2. discussion or dispute
  3. the formal presentation and opposition of a specific motion, followed by a vote
 vb
  1. to discuss (a motion), esp in a formal assembly
  2. to deliberate upon (something): he debated with himself whether to go
Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French debatre to discuss, argue, from Latin battueredeˈbater n
'debate' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: a [cultural, political, social] debate, a debate on [politics, war, social issues], a debate on the [candidates, elections, referendum], more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "debate" in the title:

...are expected to add (or "to be added")to the debate
...by the end of the debate we will <have been><be> able to... [future perfect]
...not helped by the protracted debate over health care
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a debate in which he is leading, [lead]
a debate on/about/over
a debate to/on/over
a fierce debate in Indianapolis "that" is reverberating in Trenton
a guide to the range of debate this issue has generated
a toss-up between / debate between
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Adversary vs opponent [debate]
Although by no means the only important issue underlying debate
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Before the main debate <is / there is> an undercard
brandishing her opponent’s debate stumbles
But for the skill of .............the debate would have degenerated
can a debate constitute a literature?
Can to debate mean to question?
Can you unleash a debate?
Cheapen the debate
China is [deep in] debate about its showing in the Summer Games
consider v. discuss v. debate
Continue a debate
Contradict, dispute, conflict, debate, argue
controversial /debate
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courting debate
crawl through the weeds of political debate
more...

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